Čes. slov. farm. 2017, 66(3):112-116 | DOI: 10.36290/csf.2017.018

The role of a hospital pharmacist in the management of asthma in Great Britain

Inka Sembol¹, Božena Macešková^2,*

¹ York Teaching Hospital, Great Britain

² Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno

The role of the pharmacist in the asthma management is well established. However, there is still a considerable number of patients with suboptimal asthma control affecting patients' quality of life and resulting in poor outcomes, morbidity and mortality. The aim was to identify patients' factors, explore the hospital pharmacist's role in the asthma management and identify any areas for improvement in Great Britain. Qualitative data collection was selected. Patient's case studies and semi-structured open interviews with the hospital multi-disciplinary team (MDT) were applied. Data were analysed and grouped into themes. Patient's case studies showed a variety in the patients' understanding of the pharmacist's role in their asthma management and similarly of the pharmacy services available to them. From the MDT interviews it emerged that communication across the secondary/primary care is lacking at times, and as a result new communication systems are being implemented. More research is needed into the asthma-patients' needs and expectations of pharmacy service. The hospital pharmacists are well placed to recognise asthma patients requiring pharmaceutical interventions and to provide medicines optimisation, across the primary/ secondary care settings. It was observed that the level of patient's involvement in their asthma was dependent on their interest in utilising asthma information and pharmacy services.

Keywords: asthma; asthma management; hospital pharmacist; secondary care; case studies; qualitative research

Received: January 23, 2017; Accepted: April 25, 2017; Published: March 1, 2017  Show citation